NORWICH - Mark Twain once described golf as "a good walk spoiled."

In the 96th Norwich Golf Invitational championship Sunday, cart-riding Nick Harrington made sure he spoiled rival Austin Cilley's walk around 14 holes with a dominant match-play victory, 5 and 4.

Harrington, the former Parish Hill State Open champ and UConn standout, birdied seven of the first 12 holes to storm to a 7-up lead. Now a three-time Norwich Invite champ ('2016 and '19), Harrington ended the match with a birdie on the par 5, 14th.

It was a busy weekend for both young golfers: Harrington at 25 and Cilley, of Westerly, Rhode Island, just two years older. Both in peak fitness, it was a contrast to see Harrington ride a cart while Cilley walked. It was the fourth match-play round of the weekend for both after all qualifiers played 18 holes Friday.

For Cilley, who shot a tourney-best round of 66 Friday, walking is a way to calm himself.

"I want to go free and easy around the course," said Cilley, who topped defending champ Dave Marshall in Sunday morning's semifinals, 2-and-1, to reach his first Championship Flight final. "Walking eases me and forces me not to rush myself. I had a really good weekend, but [Harrington] just steamrolled me on the front line. Shooting par wasn't good enough."

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The final capped a consistent, if not spectacular weekend for Harrington, who beat Robert Teodoldi, 4-and-3, in the semis. The Norwich Golf Club member took advantage of riding a cart during the typically hot Norwich Invite weather.

"Growing up I never wanted to use a cart but now I think it's an advantage during a busy tournament schedule because it saves energy," Harrington said. "I didn't make many mistakes the whole tournament. Today, I didn't have any bogeys."

He did better than that in the final. His drives hit fairways, his approach shots left six to 15 foot putts. He drained five birdie putts on the first seven holes to take a 7-up lead after nine holes. 

A cold 7-Up "Un-Cola" might have been refreshing for Cilley, but the deficit was too much to overcome. Even though he battled back to 5-up after 12 holes, holing an eagle with a 20-foot chip in on the par-5, 503-yard 12th hole, Cilley needed a complete Harrington fold to pull off a comeback. That wasn't happening.

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Both golfers parred the 110-yard 13th hole, before Harrington ended it with a four on the par-5, 14th. His third shot from 160 yards away nearly went in, back-rolling just wide of the cup two feet away.

"It was a great day overall even though I was bummed out a little between semifinals and finals when I saw Rory (McIlroy) just got beat out in the British Open," Harrington said. "I really admire his game and the way he's become the face of the PGA with his criticism of the new LIV Tour."

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For Cilley, the finals loss was another step in what has been a remarkable turnaround in his career. At Westerly High, Cilley was a 1,500-point basketball scorer and prolific 3-point shooter was was just an average golfer. He improved his game after getting back surgery at Rhode Island College. He was injured playing basketball in 2015. Cilley has been the low amateur in a number of Rhode Island pro events recently. Sunday, the former Division III golfer went head-to-head with the former Division I UConn Husky.

"This weekend was another milestone for me - to go up against a great golfer like Nick," Cilley said. "I'm looking to get up to that level and stamp my name as a contender on the Connecticut and Rhode Island amateur circuit and beyond."